diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 6c587706ca..aaa2ce60c7 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 * `tdata` has been deprecated and replaced with `teal_data`. Support for `tdata` passed to the `data` argument in `module(server)` will be removed in the next release.
 * `module(ui)` argument no longer accepts `data` and `datasets` arguments. All data dependent logic should be set in the server function.
 * `module(server)` argument deprecated `datasets` argument. `teal_module`s' server functions should accept `data` (`teal_data`) instead.
+* Changed the order of formal arguments in `init`. `filter` now comes directly after `modules`, before `title`.
 
 ### Miscellaneous
 
diff --git a/R/init.R b/R/init.R
index cebedac179..9c0e3fa5f4 100644
--- a/R/init.R
+++ b/R/init.R
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@
 #'   `teal_modules` or `teal_module` object. These are the specific output modules which
 #'   will be displayed in the `teal` application. See [modules()] and [module()] for
 #'   more details.
+#' @param filter (`teal_slices`)
+#'   Specifies the initial filter using [teal_slices()].
 #' @param title (`shiny.tag` or `character(1)`)
 #'   The browser window title. Defaults to a title "teal app" with the icon of NEST.
 #'   Can be created using the `build_app_title()` or
 #'   by passing a valid `shiny.tag` which is a head tag with title and link tag.
-#' @param filter (`teal_slices`)
-#'   Specifies the initial filter using [teal_slices()].
 #' @param header (`shiny.tag` or `character(1)`)
 #'   The header of the app.
 #' @param footer (`shiny.tag` or `character(1)`)
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@
 #'       datanames = "new_iris"
 #'     )
 #'   ),
-#'   title = "App title",
 #'   filter = teal_slices(
 #'     teal_slice(dataname = "new_iris", varname = "Species"),
 #'     teal_slice(dataname = "new_iris", varname = "Sepal.Length"),
@@ -86,6 +85,7 @@
 #'       global_filters = "new_mtcars cyl"
 #'     )
 #'   ),
+#'   title = "App title",
 #'   header = tags$h1("Sample App"),
 #'   footer = tags$p("Copyright 2017 - 2023")
 #' )
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@
 #'
 init <- function(data,
                  modules,
-                 title = build_app_title(),
                  filter = teal_slices(),
+                 title = build_app_title(),
                  header = tags$p(),
                  footer = tags$p(),
                  id = character(0)) {
diff --git a/R/module_teal_with_splash.R b/R/module_teal_with_splash.R
index d31f852b96..a87f48fa64 100644
--- a/R/module_teal_with_splash.R
+++ b/R/module_teal_with_splash.R
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ ui_teal_with_splash <- function(id,
 #' @rdname module_teal_with_splash
 srv_teal_with_splash <- function(id, data, modules, filter = teal_slices()) {
   checkmate::assert_character(id, max.len = 1, any.missing = FALSE)
-  checkmate::check_multi_class(data, c("teal_data", "teal_data_module"))
+  checkmate::assert_multi_class(data, c("teal_data", "teal_data_module"))
   checkmate::assert_class(modules, "teal_modules")
   checkmate::assert_class(filter, "teal_slices")
 
diff --git a/man/init.Rd b/man/init.Rd
index 34af9ca5f9..e1f7aef32e 100644
--- a/man/init.Rd
+++ b/man/init.Rd
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 init(
   data,
   modules,
-  title = build_app_title(),
   filter = teal_slices(),
+  title = build_app_title(),
   header = tags$p(),
   footer = tags$p(),
   id = character(0)
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@ nested list of \code{teal_modules} or \code{teal_module} objects or a single
 will be displayed in the \code{teal} application. See \code{\link[=modules]{modules()}} and \code{\link[=module]{module()}} for
 more details.}
 
+\item{filter}{(\code{teal_slices})
+Specifies the initial filter using \code{\link[=teal_slices]{teal_slices()}}.}
+
 \item{title}{(\code{shiny.tag} or \code{character(1)})
 The browser window title. Defaults to a title "teal app" with the icon of NEST.
 Can be created using the \code{build_app_title()} or
 by passing a valid \code{shiny.tag} which is a head tag with title and link tag.}
 
-\item{filter}{(\code{teal_slices})
-Specifies the initial filter using \code{\link[=teal_slices]{teal_slices()}}.}
-
 \item{header}{(\code{shiny.tag} or \code{character(1)})
 The header of the app.}
 
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ app <- init(
       datanames = "new_iris"
     )
   ),
-  title = "App title",
   filter = teal_slices(
     teal_slice(dataname = "new_iris", varname = "Species"),
     teal_slice(dataname = "new_iris", varname = "Sepal.Length"),
@@ -99,6 +98,7 @@ app <- init(
       global_filters = "new_mtcars cyl"
     )
   ),
+  title = "App title",
   header = tags$h1("Sample App"),
   footer = tags$p("Copyright 2017 - 2023")
 )
@@ -106,4 +106,11 @@ if (interactive()) {
   shinyApp(app$ui, app$server)
 }
 
+# this is run
+print("ok")
+\dontrun{
+ stop("nooo")
+}
+
+
 }
diff --git a/vignettes/data-as-shiny-module.Rmd b/vignettes/data-as-shiny-module.Rmd
index 840df84830..d64dfa5f0c 100644
--- a/vignettes/data-as-shiny-module.Rmd
+++ b/vignettes/data-as-shiny-module.Rmd
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ data_module <- teal_data_module(
 
 app <- init(
   data = data_module,
-  module = example_module()
+  modules = example_module()
 )
 
 if (interactive()) {
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ data_module <- teal_data_module(
 
 app <- init(
   data = data_module,
-  module = example_module()
+  modules = example_module()
 )
 
 if (interactive()) {
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ data_module_2 <- within(
 
 app <- init(
   data = data_module_2,
-  module = example_module()
+  modules = example_module()
 )
 
 if (interactive()) {